Clasp for wrist-watch bracelets and other linkages



July 27, 1948. v cou -r 2,446,068

CLASP FOR WRIST-WATCH BRACELETS AND OTHER LINKAGES Filed Dec. 27, 1946int/eniorQ LoujsE Mzlcoarl" 4ZZ0r-nys.

Patented July 27, 1948 UNITED STATE OTHER LINKAGES s A'ihi l'i @itFICE2,446.068f N i oLAsPFon WRIST-WATCH BRACELETS Louis E. Valcourt, EastProvidence, R. 1., assignor to Kestenman Bros. Mfg. 00., Providence, R.I., l a corporation of Rhode Island Application December 27, 194.6,Serial N 718,772 r i Claims.

This invention relates to buckles, clasps and similar connectors forwatch-bracelets and the like and particularly to improvements in devicesof a type comprising means for automaticallyadjusting the length of thestrap, band or bracelet to yieldingly engage the wrist of the wearer.

One object of the invention is to provide an extensible clasp orfastening device of the type indicated which, after it has been slippedover the hand, may have its parts folded into closed relationship andsecurely latched together while being adapted to yieldingly hold thestrap or band contracted on the wrist. Another object is to provide aclasp or fastening device of the type indicated comprising a pluralityof hinged sections adapted to be folded into overlying nestedrelationship to contract the band *or bracelet and embodying aresilientlyoperated element slidable in one of the hinged sections fordrawing the bracelet snugly about the wrist of the wearer. 1

Another object is to provide a clasp or fastening device of the typeindicated having means for securely latching the foldable sections inclosed relationship to guard against their accidental release, withmanually-operable means for releasing the latching means only when theextension member has been extended throughout substantially its fulllength.

Another object is to provide a clasp or fastening device of the typeindicated having latching means on one of the foldable sections andmeans on the slidable extensionelement for sliding the latching means inone direction when the extension element is extended, whereafter themanually-operable means may be manipulated to release the latching meansto permit unfolding of the hinged sections.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the followingspecificatio which describes a preferred form of construction of thedevice by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig; 1 is a plan view of the present improved clasping device shown asattached to the ends of a bracelet chain or linkage;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the clasp taken in a medianplane and showing its parts latched together in folded relationship;

Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view showing the hinged members of theclasp in unfolded rela tionship;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the foldable members atoneendof the clasp illustrating the manually-operable means for permting release of the latching means as in position to prevent suchrelease; i

Fig. 5 is-a similar sectional view at one end of the clasp showing themanually-operable means actuated to permit release of the latchingmeans;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the clasp on line 6-% of Fig.1;

Fig. '7 is a similar transverse sectional View on linei-l ofFig. 1; i 3Fig. 8 is a detailed view of the hinged connection between two of thefoldable members of the clasp;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the manuallyoperable locking means forpreventing release of the latching means; and l 3 Fig. 10 is a view ofthe slidable latching element. i

The present clasp or connector is similar in general to that shown anddescribed in my United States Letters Patent N 0. 2,408,279, butembodies certain improvements including manually-operable locking meansto guard against acoidental release of the latching means when theextension member is extended. In the device of my prior patent theseveral foldable elements of the clasp are normally held together bylatching means which may be releasedby drawi gout the exten sion memberto the full extent of its sliding ac tion. With this previous form ofconstruction there isfan element of danger from accidental unclasping ofthe device should the extension member be inadvertently drawn outwardlyto the fullextent permissible after thebracelet has been clasped on thewrist. To provide against this contingency and render thelatchin meansofthe clasp more secure, thepresent improvement provides a" lock in theform of a pivoted detent which mustbe manually operated to permit-theextension member to be drawn out to the full extent for releasing thelatching means. Referring to the drawing, the present improved clasp orconnector 2 is shown iii-Fig. l as applied to use attached to the endsof sections '3 and! of a bracelet composed of articulated links; whilein other cases it may be employed with leather or fabric straps orcords. The device comprises, in

general, three cooperating foldable extension.

members consisting in a base member 5, an intermediate or connectinmember 6, and a top memher or cover 7. The several members 5, 6 and! arehinged together to adapt them to be folded together in overlyingrelationshipas shown in- Figs. 1 and 2. A resiliently-operated extensionmember. 8 is slidable in the base member 5 for permitting limitedexpansion or contraction in the length of the bracelet after the partsof the clasp have been folded together and latched in closedrelationship. The several parts of the device may be constructed asstampings struck up from sheet-metal stock and formed generally ofarcuate shape to conform to the contour of the wrist of the wearer.

The base member or section 5 is of shallow trough-shape constituted by abottom wall or plate ll! having side walls ll folded upwardly therefrom.At one end of the base member 5 its bottom wall Ill is extended andcurled around to provide a cylindrical bearing II! for a hingepin l3,the ends of which project through holes in a pair of opposite ears 14 atthe ends of the connecting member 6, see Fig. ,8. The intermediateconnecting member 5 may take the formo-f an arcuate strip of sheet-metalwhich is cut away at its center throughout the greater part of itslength to form a pair of bifurcations or legs [5 indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 1. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the ends of the legs I5 ofthe member 6 are formed with laterally-projecting pintles l 6 whichproject'through holes in the sides of the top member 1 to hingedlyconnect these two parts of the clasp.

The top member or cover I is also of arcuate shape in side elevation,being formed with a top wall I! and depending side walls l8. The lower.marginal portions of the side walls l8 are folded inwardly to provide apair of opposed flanges 20 which serve as ledges for engagement with thelatching means carried by the bottom member 5. Adjacent each end of thecover 1 the opposite flanges or ledges 20 are cut away to provide slots2| and 22 which provide alined openings for release of the latchinglugs, later described, when the latter are brought into cooperativerelation therewith. The upper wall Ilof the cover 1 may be embossed witha raised panel 23 as shown most particularly in Figs. 2 and 6. The freeend of the cover 1 has its top wall formed into a cylindricalhinge-member 24 for connection with the link at one end of the braceletas shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Pivotally mounted at the opposite end of thecover I is a locking pawl or gate 25 normally maintained in position toclose the openings 22 in the ledges 20 for a purpose as later explained.

The locking pawl or detent gate 25, shown in perspective view in Fig. 9,is constructed from relatively thin sheet-metal formed with a crossstripor saddle 28 folded downwardly at its ends to provide a pair ofrunner-like legs 21. The legs 21 are pierced with holes 28 for receivingthe pintles l6 which project from the legs l5 of the connecting member 8for hinging it to the sides of the cover I. The rearward portions of thelegs 21 of the locking member 25 are folded upwardly from the bottom tooverlap on the inside, thus providing double-thick detent abutments orgate-portions 29 normally engaging through and closing the openings 22in the opposite ledges orflanges 20 on the cover I.

Projecting rearwardly from the cross-strip 26 of the member 25'is anintegral spring element 30 of bowed form with its end reversely bent toadapt it to bear against the under side of the top wall I! of the coverI. The spring "38 thus tends to rock the member 25 to maintain itsdetent orgate portions 29 engaged through the openings 22 in the ledges20 on the sides of the cover I, see Fig. 4. At its forward end thecrossstrip 26 of the member 25 has an extension 32 folded upwardly andthen rearwardly across the top of the strip 26 to provide a finger-rest33, the ends of which are folded downwardly at 34 to provide a smoothfinish. The finger-rest 33 is normally positioned in an opening 35 wherethe end of the top wall I! of the cover I is cut away to accommodate it.

The extension member 8 is formed with a top wall '3! and depending sideflanges 38 having their edges resting on the bottom of the base member 5to support the member to slide longitudinally therein. The top wall 31of the member 8 is bent downwardly at the rear to form an abutment 39for the end of a helical coiled spring 40, the forward end of whichengages against the upturned end wall M of the base member 5. A pair ofsemicircular ears 42 foldedinwardly from the side walls I l of the basemember 5 overlap the top of the extension member 8 to assist in holdingit down within the base member 5. Normally, the slidable extensionmember 8 is contracted within the base member '5 as shown in Figs. 1 and2 under the tension of the spring 40. At its forward end the extensionmember 8 has its top wall curled around to form a bearing 43 forengagement with the crossbar of one of the links of the bracelet chain 3as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The extension member 8 is thus adapted to beslid outwardly from the base member 5 to expand the bracelet; andnormally the spring will act to retract the extension member into thebase member to draw the bracelet snugly about the wrist of the wearer.

The latching means for the clasp comprises a second slidable member 45shown in perspective View in Fig. 10 and arranged to overlie the top ofthe extension member 8. The latching member 45 may be constructed ofsheet-metal with an arcuately-shaped top Wall 46 and depending curvedside flanges 41. The top wall of the latching member 45 is slotted toprovide an opening 48 extending substantially its whole length, butinterrupted by cross strips 49 at each end. The lower edges of both sideflanges 4'! are cut away adjacent their ends andthe metal bent upwardlyand outwardly to form laterally-projecting latching strips or lugs 50 atboth ends and each side of the member 45. These latching lugs 58 arearranged to project through longitudinally-extending slots 5| in'thesides H of the bottom or base member 5 as shown most clearly in Figs. 3and 6 of the drawing. The slots 5| are of considerably greater lengththan that of the latching lugs 50 to permit the latching member 45 toslide longitudinally of the base member 5 while holding said member downin the base. It will be noted by reference to Figs. 6 and 10 that thelatching lugs 58 are rounded along their outer edges, the purpose beingto adapt them to snap across the inturned flanges 20 on the inner sidesof the top member or cover 1 to latch the several folded sections of theclasp in closed relationship, see Figs. 5 and 6. Referring to Fig. 7, itwill be noted that the detent or gate portions 29 of the legs 21 of thelocking member 25 are positioned in the space between the sides l8 ofthe top or cover member I and the side walls ll of the bottom member 5in abutting relation therewith. To assist in holding the slidablelatching element 45 down within the base member 5. a pair ofsemi-circular ears 55 are folded over from the side walls II of the basemember to overlap the top of the latching member as shown in Fig.5. 1and 6. Struck up from the top of the extension member 8 is a lug orabutment 56, see Fig.3, which projects through the longitudinal slot oropening 48 in the member '45 to adapt it to slide therein when themember 8 is drawn outwardly from the end of the base member 5. Theabutment 56 is so located on the member 8 as to adapt it to strike theend of the opening 48in the latching member 15, that is the edge of itsforward cross strip '49, to cause the latching member to be slid withthe extension member during the latter part of its sliding motion. Thepurpose of this construction is to adapt the latching member 45 to beslid forwardly into position forits latching lugs 5!) to pass throughthe openings 2| and 22 in the ledges 20 on the side walls I8 of thecover member to unclasp the several foldable members after the lockingdetent or gate member 25 has been pressed downwardly as shown in Fig. 5.The method of operation of the complete device is as follows:

Assuming that the several foldable elements 5, 6 and l have beenunlatched and unfolded into alined relationship to extend the braceletfor drawing it over the hand and onto the wrist of the wearer, the claspmay be closed by simply pressing the cover 1 down against the basemember 5 with the pivotal or hinge connections pro- Viding for suchfolding together of the parts. As the cover 1 is pressed down onto thebase 5 to nest the latter therein, the latching lugs 50 on the member 45will snap across the edges of the inturned ledges 20 on the cover toengagetherewith in the relationship shown in Fig. 6 to hold the severalparts in closed or nested relationship. It should be explained that itis not necessary that the latching lugs 50 be disposed opposite theopenings 2| and 22 in the ledges 20 since they will snap over the edgesof the ledges in whatever relation they assume to the openings. That isto say, normally with the eXtension member 8 partly or completelycontracted to its full extent within the base 5 the latching lugs 50will not be alined with the openings 2| and 22, but, as before stated,it is not essential that they should be since the lugs will snap overthe edges of the ledges 20 in any position they may assume in relationthereto. In such extreme circumstance, however, that the extensionmember 8 may be completely extended from the bottom or base member 5 theforward lugs 5|] on the latching member 45 will be allowed to pass upthrough the forward openings 22 in the flanges or ledges 20 on themember by rocking the gate member or looking member 25. At the same timethe rearward latching lugs 50 will pass through the openings 2| at theopposite end of the cover 7 and immediately thereafter the spring 40will act to retract the extension member 8 into the base member 5 andslide the member 45 with it, due to frictional contact between theseparts to cause latching engagement between the lugs 58 and the, flangesor ledges 20 on the cover.

With the parts of the clasp latched together in nested relationship, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2,. the device operates to permit a limitedextension in the length of the bracelet under the outwardlyslidingmovement of the extension member 8, such motion being limited bythe forward lugs 50 striking against the rearward edges of the foldeddetent or gate portions 29 of the member 25. When it is desired tounclasp the bracelet to withdraw it from the wrist the extension member8 is slid outwardly, preferably by pressing the finger on the top of thedetent or gate member to rock the latter into the position shown in Fig.5 while concurrently continuing the outward sliding movement of theextension member 8. This 'continued outward movement of the extensionmember 8 will cause the for- Ward lugs 50on the latching element to ridein under the legs of thegate member 25 to further lift the ends of itslegs and allow the detent lugs to .pass through the openings 22 in theledges 20' on the sides of the cover 1. Concurrently therewith therearward lugs on the latching element 45 will pass through the openings2| in the ledges 20 so that the cover 1 will be completely released fromthe base member '5 and allowed to be 'swung upwardly and rearwardly toextend the clasp to its maximum length and provide expansionof thebracelet sufiiciehtly to slide it over thehand of the wearer. i i

It will be observed from the foregoing specification that the presentinvention provides important improvements in clasps or connectors of thepresent type, first, by providing for maximum extension of the braceletto pass it over the hand 1. A clasp or connector forwrist-watch brace-Qlets comprising a plurality of sections foldable into overlyingrelationship, latching means on one of said sections, an extensionmember slidable in one of said sections, resilient means for slidingsaid section to normally maintain, it in contracted relationship, aslidable latching member having means engageable with the firstnamedlatching means to hold the foldable sections in closed relationship,said slidable latching member being movable by and with the extensionmember to release the latching means,

, and detent means for normally restrictingthe movement of the, slidablelatching member to prevent release of the latching means, said detentmeans being manually operable to permit the slidable member to be movedto release the latchingmeans.

2. A clasp orconnector for wrist-watch bracelets comprising .a pluralityof articulated sections foldable into overlying relationship, latchingmeans on one of saidsections, an extension member slidable in another ofsaid sections for expanding and contracting the length of the bracelet,resilient means for resisting the-outward sliding movement of theextension member, a latching member slidable by and with the extensionmember and having means for engaging the firstnamed latching means, aresiliently-operated detent for normally engaging the slidable latchingmember to restrict its sliding motion, said detent means being manuallyoperable to efiect release of the slidable latching member to permit itto move sufliciently to release the cooperating latching means.

3. A'clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets comprising a basesection, a cover section, an intermediate member hingedly connecting thebase section and cover section to adapt them to be folded into overlyingrelationship, latching.

ledges on the cover section, a latching member slidable in the basesection and having means engageable with the ledges on the cover sectionto hold the sections in closed relationship, an extension memberslidable in the base section, a spring for normally maintaining saidextension member contracted within the base section, means on saidextension member engageable with the latching member to slide the latterto release its latching means from the ledges on the cover section, anddetent means for normally limiting the movement of the latching memberto prevent the release of its latching means from the ledges on thecover section, said detent means being manually operable .to permit thelatching member to slide to release its latching means from the ledgeson the cover section.

4. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets or the like comprisinga base section, a cover section, means connecting the base section andcover section to adapt them to fold into closed relationship, said coversection having latching ledges at its sides provided with openingstherein, a latching member slidable in the base section and having lugsengageable with the ledges on the cover section to latch the sections inclosed relationship, said latching member being slidable to adapt itslugs to pass through the openings in the ledges on the cover section torelease the latching means, an extension member slidable in the basesection and engageable with the latching member to slide the latter torelease the lugs from the ledges on the cover section when the extensionmember is extended to the limit of its sliding motion, a spring fornormally maintaining the extension member in contracted relation in thebasemember, detent means for limiting the sliding movement of thelatching member to prevent release of its lugs from the ledges .on thecover section, and a spring for normally maintaining said detent meansin operative relation to the latching member, said detent means beingmanually operable to release the latching member to permit it to slideto effect release of its lugs from the ledges on the cover section.

'5. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets or the likecomprising a bottom section, a top section, an intermediate memberconnecting said bottom section with the .top section to adapt them tofold into overlying relationship, said top section having latchingledges on its sides provided with openings at the ends thereof, alatching member slidable in the bottom section and provided with meansengageable with the ledges on the top section to latch the sections infolded relationship, said engaging means being adapted to pass throughthe openings in the ledges to unlatch the sections, a pivoted detentmember on the top section provided with resilient means for rocking itinto position to close the openings through the ledges thereof, anextension member slidable in the bottom section and engageable with thelatching member to slide the latter to release its latching means fromthe ledges on the top section, and a spring for resisting the slidingmovement of the extension member, said detent means being manuallyoperable to expose the openings in the ledges on the top section topermit the engaging means .on the latching member to pass therethrough.

'6. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets comprising aplurality of articulated sections adapted to fold into overlyingrelationship, latching ledges on one of said sections having openings attheir ends, a latching member slidable on another of the sections andhaving means engageable with the ledges on the first-named section tolatch the sections in closed relationship, a manually-operable member onone of the sections having detent means for closing the openings in theledges to prevent the engaging means on the latching member from passingtherethrough, resilient means for maintaining said member with itsdetent means in closed relationship, a slidable extension memberengageable with the latching member to slide the latter to release itslatching means from the ledges by passing through the openings therein,and a spring for normally resisting the sliding movement of theextension member to extended relationship.

7. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets comprising achannel-shaped base section, a cover section of inverted channel-shapehaving inwardly-extending ledges at its sides, an intermediate memberhingedly connecting the base section and cover section to adapt them tobe folded into nested relationship, a latching member slidable in thebase section and having lugs projecting from its sides through slots inthe sides of said base section, said lugs adapted to snap across theledges on the cover section to latch the sections in nestedrelationship, an extension member slidable in the base section andprovided with means for engaging the latching member to slide the latterinto position for its lugs to pass through the openings in the ledges onthe cover section, a spring for resisting the outward sliding movementof the extension member, a manually-operable pawl pivoted on the [coversection and having detent means engageable with the latching member tolimit its sliding movement and prevent release of its lugs from theledges on the cover section, and resilient means for normallymaintaining the pawl in operative position with respect to the latchingmember, said pawl being manually operable to permit maxim-um movement ofthe latching member to release its lugs from the ledges on the coversection.

8. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets and the likecomprising a channel-shaped bottom section, an inverted channel-shapedcover section having inturned flanges on its sides forming latchingledges, an intermediate member hingedly connecting the bottom sectionand cover section to fold into nested relationship, an extension memberslidable in the bottom member, a spring for resisting the outwardsliding movement of the extension member, a latching member overlyingthe extension member and having depending sides provided with lugsprojecting through slots in the sides of the bottom section, means onthe extension member engageable with the latching member to slide thelatter to move its lugs into position for disengagement from thelatching ledges on the cover section, a pawl pivoted on the coversection and provided with depending detent portions for limiting thesliding movement of the latching member, and a spring for rocking saidpawl into operative position with respect to the latching member, saidpawl being manually rockable against the action of the spring to moveits detent portions out of operative position and permit release of theengaging means on the latching member from the ledges "on the coversection.

9. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch brace-- lets comprising a bottomsection, a cover section hingedly connected to the bottom section toadapt it to fold into overlying relation therewith, vsaid cover sectionhaving depending side walls provided with inwardly-projecting latchingledges interrupted by openings at their ends, an extension memberslidable in the bottom section, a

spring for resisting outward sliding movement of the extension member, alatching member slidable in the bottom section and formed with latchinglugs on its sides engageable with the latching ledges on the coversection, means engageable between the extension member and latchingmember to effect sliding movement of the latter to permit its lugs topass through the openings in the ledges when the extension member ismoved to its maximum extent, and a resiliently-operated pawl pivoted onthe cover section and normally maintained in position to restrict thesliding movement of the latching member, said pawl being manuallyrockable into position to permit maximummovement of the latching memberto allow its lugs to pass through the openings in the latching ledges onthe cover section to thereby release the latching means.

10. A clasp or connector for Wrist-watch bracelets or the likecomprising a channel-shaped bottom section, an inverted channel-shapedcover section, means for hingedly connecting the bottom section andcover section to adapt them to fold into nested relationship, said coversection having 10 its depending sides formed with inwardly-projectinglatching ledges interrupted by openings at their ends, amanually-operable pawl pivoted to the cover section and provided withlegs formed with gate portions engageable through the openings in thelatching ledges on the cover, resilient means for maintaining said pawlwith its gate portions engaged through the openings in the ledges of thecover section, an extension member slidable in the bottom section andformed with an upstanding abutment at the top, a latching memberoverlying the extension member in the bottom section and having alongitudinal slot in its top and depending legs straddling the sides ofthe extension member, said legs having outwardly projecting latchinglugs slidable in elongate slots in the sides of the base section, theabutment on the extension member being slidable in the slot in the topof the latching member and engageable with the ends thereof, and aspring in the bottom section acting on the extension member to contractit within the bottom section while adapting it to be extended therefromwhereby to slide the latching member into position for its lugs to passthrough the openings in the ledges on the cover section upon manualoperation of the detent pawl.

LOUIS E. VALCOURT.

